Pipe-wrench.



W. .P. SHEETS.

PIPE WRENCH.

APPLICATION'FILED SEPT. 14. ms.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Attorneys WILLIAM P, SHEETS, or rmnonron, MISSOURI.

PIPE-WRENCH. j

I Specification of Letters Patent.

' ratemea'nee. 19,1916.

Application filed September 14, 1916. Serial No. 120,143..

To all whom it may concern:

a citizen of the United States, residing at Princeton, in theco-unty of Mercer and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Pipe-Wrench, of which the following isa specification. a

The present invention appertains to pipe wrenches of the chain type, and aims to provide a wrench of that character embodying a novel'and advantageous assemblage of the component elements, to enhance the utility and efficiency of the wrench.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a wrench of the character described, of a removable and replaceable cushion for the chain assembled with the other parts in a novel manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means to accomplish the adjustment of the chain operating lever.

It is also the object of the invention to provide a pipe wrench having the characteristicsabove noted, and which at the same time is comparatively simple in construction, easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and practical and convenient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described andclaimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodimentofthe invention herein disclosed can bemade within the scope of what is claimed without-departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wrench, portions of the levers being broken away. Fig. .2 is a longitudinal section, portions being shown in elevation and portions of the levers being'broken away. Fig. 3 is across section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the chain attaching or anchor member. a v

The wrench embodies a pair of levers or handles 1 and 2 of suitable -lengthand swingable toward and away from one another. The outer end portion of the. lever 1 is secured or clamped between a pair of side plates 4 by means of rivets 3 or other'securing elements, and a transverse bolt or retaining element 5 extends through an aperture 6 with which the lever 2 is provided acent to itsouter end, and said bolt 5, also 7 Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. SHEETs,

extends through transverse slots 7 with which the plates 4 are provided between their ends. The plates 4 project outwardly beyond the outer end ofthe lever 1, and the lever 2 has a rounded fulcrum bearing 8 resting against "the free end portion of a leaf spring 9 located betweenjthe twolevers, The inner basal end of;the spring 9 is se-' cured, by means of a rivet 10 or otherwise, to that side of the lever 1 facing the lever 2, and the spring 9 is located between the plates 4 and projects outwardly. The free portion of the spring 9 rests against the tip of an adjusting screw 11 threaded through the .outer end portion of the lever 1 and projecting between the plates 4, whereby the free end portion of the spring 9 is held in various adjusted positions by the-screw 11, and the spring 9 forms a, fulcrum for the lever 2 against which the bearingS rests. There is little or no strain upon the spring 9, since the bearing'S bears against. one side of the spring 9 directly opposite to the adjusting screw 11, so that the. strain is transmitted from the lever- 2 to the screw llalmost, di-

rectly. a The outer end of the lever 2 has an eX- tension 12 projecting beyond the bearing 8, and provided at its free end-with a curved tooth or hook 13 to engagethe links of a sprocket chain 14 employed togrip the pipe P. An 'arcuate, attaching or anchor member. 15 has one end of the chain 14 pivot-' ally engaged. with the free end thereof, as at 16, the. free end .of the member 15 being bifurcated to receive .theend' link of the chain, and the buttor basal-endof the member 15 has a reduced. tongue or extension 17 fitted between the outer ends of the plates 4 and secured theretoby means of rivets 18 or the like. The member 15 and corresponding edges'of the plates 4 are curved to accommodate pipes of. various diameters. There is an opening between the outer end loo 9 of the lever land member 15through which V the free portion of thechain 14 is beengaged by the hook or bill 13. In order to prevent the chain '14 from scratching .or marring'sm'ooth, polished or plated pipes, an elongated gripping cushion passed to 19 is emploved, thesame being formed from webbing or other. suitable material to grip the pipe and provide a cushion for the chain 14."The cushion 19 provides a lining for the chain, extendingalong the inner-portion of the chain between the pipe and chain. One end or the cushion 19 fits against the inner curved surface of the member 15 and is clamped thereagainst by means of asecuring bolt 20 extending through the member 15 from its inner to its outer surface. The bolt 20 has a head 21 at its inner end compressed within the cushion 19, as seen in Fig. 2, and a nut 22 is threaded upon the outer end of the bolt 20 to tighten it for clamping the cushion against the member 15.

The screw 11 is ordinarily retracted, whereby the leaf spring 9 moves toward the lever 1 by its tension, thereby permitting the bolt'5 and lever 2 to movetoward the lever 1. In applying the wrench to the pipe 1?, the cushion 19 is passed around the pipe, and the chain 14 passed around the cushion, the cushion and chain being inserted through the opening between the plates 41, and the lever 2 being manipulated to engage the hook 13 with the proper link of the chain. Then, when the two levers are swung toward one another, the lever '2 in rocking upon the spring 9 as a fulcrum, will swing the hook 13 away from the pipe, thereby pulling the chain tightly around the pipe to grip it, and cause the pipe to turn with the wrench. The screw 11 can be screwed to force the spring 9 and lever 2 away from the lever 1, whereby a tighter grip can be obtained under conditions when asufliciently tight grip cannot be obtained otherwise. The cushion 19 protects the pipe, and affords a perfect grip, even with a smooth or plated pipe. When the lever 2' is released, the hold on the pipe is relieved, whereby the wrench can be swung to a new position te obtain a new hold on the pipe, and this permits the pipe to be turned even when the wrench cannot be oscillated through a large are, as when the pipe is in amore or less inaccessible position. The

Wrench has a comparatively wide range of adjustment for use upon pipes of various diameters. The wrench is strong, being capable of resisting severe strains, and it will be noted that the bolt or retaining element 5 is not subjected to shearing strains, since the lever 2 bears against the spring 9 to provide the fulcrum.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: j

1. A pipe wrench embodying a pair of levers, an adjustable fulcrum for one lever carried by the other, and a chain connected to the second mentioned lever and engageable with the first mentioned lever.

2. A pipe wrench embodying a'pair of levers, a leaf spring secured to one lever, an adjusting screw carried by said lever for adjusting said spring, said spring forming a fulcrum for the other lever, and a chain connected to the first mentioned lever and engageable with the second mentioned lever.

3. A pipe wrench embodying a pair of levers, a pair of side plates carried by one lever, the other lever being disposed between said side plates and having'a sliding connection therewith, an adjustable fulcrum member for the second mentioned lever carried by the first mentioned lever, and a chain connected to said plates and extendiiig therebetweenfor the engagement of the second mentioned lever.

1; A pipe wrench embodying a pair of levers, a pair of side plates carried by one lever and having slots, the other lever projecting between said plates and having a member working in said slots, a leaf spring secured to the first mentioned lever and projec'ting between said plates, an adjusting screw carried by the first mentioned lever for moving the spring away from said lever, the second mentioned lever having a rounded bearing seating against the leaf spring to fulcrum the second mentioned lever, and a chain connected to said plates and extending therebetween for the engagement of the second mentioned lever;

5. A pipe wrench embodying a pair of levers, a pair of plates carried by one lever and projecting beyond the outer end thereof, an anchor member carried by the outer ends of said plates,- the other lever being fulcrurned between said plates, an elongated gripping cushion attached to said member and extending between said plates to surround a pipe, and acha-in cennected to said member to extend around the cushion be tween said plates to engage the second men tioned lever.

6. A pipe wrench embodying a pair of I levers, a pair of plates between which one lever is secured, said plates projecting outwardly from said lever, the other lever being ful'crumed between said plates, an anchor member secured to the outer ends of said plates and curved to accommodate a pipe, an elongated gripping cushion having one end portion. fitting the curved surface of said member, a securing element engaging through said member and clamping said cushion thereagainst, and a chain anchored to the end' of said member, said cushion and chain being adapted to extend between said plates around a pipe, and the chain being engageable with the second mentioned lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto 'afliXe'd my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM P; SHEETS.

Witnessesi W. I. LiNDsEY,

M. J. SI-IowAn'rnR.

Copies 'of this patent ma be obtained for five-cents each, by addressing 'the commissioner or mesa, Washington, D. G. 

